Australia: North Queensland Adventure with Sailing | 2025-2026
from USD 1608
![Contiki Holidays](https://rajahtravel.com/uploads/brands/thumbnails/8642ff9f3703e61793d5ae2e7b48ae8d.jpg)
Gold Seal Protection
- Gold Seal Protection
Dining Summary
- 4 Lunch (L)
- 4 Dinner (D)
- 6 Breakfast (B)
Faqs
- Sydney: Why does the itinerary use dual-names for locations (ie. Warrane/Sydney)? Contiki acknowledges the Traditional and Torres Strait Island owners of the land, sea and waters of the spectacular Australian continent. Dual-naming reflects that, as we explore this remarkable land, we recognise and respect Indigenous custodianship of a unique, ancient culture and country.
- Gimuy (Cairns): Can I catch a flight the next day after diving at the Great Barrier Reef? It’s best to wait at least 24 hours after your last dive before flying.
- Yunbenun (Magnetic Island): Can I get a single or twin room upgrade in Magnetic Island? During your 2-night stay in Magnetic Island, you’ll stay in multi-share rooms with the same sex even (if you’ve booked single or twin room for the trip duration). But if you’d like some privacy, you can request a paid upgrade to a single or twin room, but the confirmation would depend on availability.Please note that this is a modular trip. That means you’ll be joining a trip that started 1 week earlier – if you wish to do the full version, please refer to the Ultimate Australia trip.
- Airlie Beach: What is the sailing boat like in the Whitsundays? Pretty darn epic, if you ask us. It’s a converted racing yacht that sleeps up to 20 people with all the basic amenities. It’s snazzy – perfect if you’re all about fun adventures out on the sea.
Included Experience
- Whitsunday Islands: Float around the reefs, marvel at rainbow-coloured fish, then chill out on deck (and secretly hope no one brought a ukulele).
- Whitsunday Islands: Seeing Whitehaven Beach is like seeing a little piece of heaven. With 15 of your new best friends! #lifegoals
- Whitsunday Islands: Step aboard a converted racing yacht – where your friendly captain trusts you enough to let you try steering it.
- Whitsunday Islands: The Great Barrier Reef is home to nearly 9,000 species of sea creatures. This means it’ll impress even the saltiest ‘sea dogs’.
- Townsville: Catch a boat from the mainland to Magnetic Island.
- Magnetic Island: Pack some comfy shoes and climb up to Hawking's Point for sundown. Yoga poses for Insta: optional.
- Magnetic Island: Go koala-spotting, see WWII fortifications, or just have a beer in the sun. There’s something for everyone on this trail.
- Magnetic Island: Mingle with Magnetic Island's resident Rock Wallabies at dusk. Just watch these cheeky little guys don’t steal your wallet!
- Magnetic Island: Catch a boat from Magnetic Island to the mainland. Wave goodbye to your new BFF Reggie the Koala and promise you’ll write.
- Townsville: Things heat up as the landscape gets even more tropical. Soak up the scenery on this train trip from Townsville to Cairns.
- Daintree Rainforest: Check out the oldest rainforest in the world, home to frogs, butterflies, bats and more.
Make Travel Matter®
- Cairns: Eat like a local with this chef-guided bush food tutorial and dinner (thankfully, not a witchetty grub in sight!)
- Daintree Rainforest: Tour the world’s oldest rainforest with an expert. Sir David Attenborough called Daintree: ‘the most extraordinary place on earth’.
- Daintree Rainforest: Learn how ancient ‘Dreamtime’ stories were shared through art. Then unleash your inner Banksy and create a masterpiece at the Janbal Gallery.
- Base Backpackers (or similar)
- Prosail (or similar)
- Nomads Magnetic Island (or similar)
- Gilligans (or similar)
Hello Airlie Beach! This tropical paradise is the perfect place to kick off our adventure. Our trip starts at Base Backpackers where we'll meet our fellow adventurers.
Duration: 1 Day
Accommodation: Base Backpackers (or similar)
This morning we'll transfer to the marina and board a converted racing yacht - our home for the next 2 nights - ready to set sail over crystal clear waters. With 74 perfect islands at your fingertips, an open sea calling your name, today you'll get to explore one of the worlds most lusted-after holiday destinations with a day trip to the spotless Whitehaven Beach, including snorkelling. A freshly prepared lunch and dinner are waiting for you back on the yacht. This is as close to heaven as you can find on planet earth.
Duration: 1 Day
Accommodation: Prosail (or similar)
Is there anywhere in the world more beautiful than the Whitsundays? We think not. We'll have more wonders to enjoy today as we spend the day cruising through the islands, enjoying freshly prepared meals on board, with endless opportunities to snorkel, swim and soak up those rays.
Duration: 1 Day
Accommodation: Prosail (or similar)
Waking up on board the yacht this morning, we'll make our way to the shore. With our sights set on another beautiful island destination we'll board a coach, heading for Townsville. Here we'll board the ferry to our next destination. Magnetic Island is an apt name for this captivating isle, with its coastal walking trails and gum trees teeming with lazy koala bears. We'll have plenty of time to explore, try some water sports in the bright turquoise waters or meet some of the local marsupials. But first things first, we'll enjoy a drink (our treat) and watch the sunset over the bay. Blissful or what?
Duration: 1 Day
Accommodation: Base Backpackers (or similar)
We have a whole day on this paradise island - lucky us! Check out some of the walking trails - such as the Forts Walk which offers up stunning views of the Palm Island Group as well as WWII fortifications, and the chance to see koalas in the wild - or enjoy some free time at Horseshoe bay, taking a dip on the azure waters and relaxing on the beach. See Magnetic Island's resident Rock Wallabies at dusk before a free evening, where we can watch the sunset and check out some of the local bars.
Duration: 1 Day
Accommodation: Nomads Magnetic Island (or similar)
This morning we'll say farewell to our koala friends and depart Magnetic Island on a ferry. But we'll never forget its singular beauty. Back in Townsville we won't hang around too long, as we're hopping on a train headed to Cairns, where we'll arrive late afternoon after a gloriously scenic journey along Australia's East Coast. Welcome to the city where rainforests meet reefs. We'll enjoy one of the most memorable meals you've ever experienced today with our interactive Bush Food MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® tutorial and dinner. An experienced chef will guide us through a history of Bush Food as you sample a variety of native spices and fruits, explaining their tastes, origins, and traditional uses before we enjoy our dinner, which features native game. It's an incredible cultural feast, and the perfect way to start our adventure in Cairns.
Duration: 1 Day
Accommodation: Gilligans (or similar)
Rise and shine, our entire day today is an unforgettable MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® experience, packed with history, heritage and natural beauty, as we enjoy a spectacular a day trip to the oldest tropical rainforest in the world: Daintree. With its ancient ferns and vibrant canopies, this place will take our breath away. There's a reason David Attenborough called it 'the most extraordinary place on earth.' As well as admiring the lush rainforest, we'll also meet the local Kuku Yalanji people and learn about their rich Aboriginal culture and history. We'll get the chance to view a smoking ceremony and take an art class with an Aboriginal artist. We'll also learn about ancient Dreamtime stories, local history and how these are shared through art. Then, we'll get to create our own unique souvenir to take home in the form of a canvas that tells our own stories. What a day; and we're not done yet.
Duration: 1 Day
Accommodation: Gilligans (or similar)
Today you'll have the option to board a catamaran out to the reef to snorkel or dive in the crystal waters and gaze at the colourful coral and even more vibrant marine life. Back on board, the expert marine crew will tell us all there is to know about this stunning, but vulnerable, natural miracle.
Duration: 1 Day
Accommodation: Gilligans (or similar)
Our adventure ends this afternoon, but not before we have a chance to escape our comfort zones and try some of the adventurous activities that Cairns is famous for. Anyone for bungy jumping?
Duration: 1 Day
Departs On | Returns On | Single Occupancy | Twin Room | Quad Share Room | Definite Departure | |
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Sat, 19 Apr 2025 | Sun, 27 Apr 2025 | USD 2,386 | USD 1,910 | USD 1,642 |
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Sat, 03 May 2025 | Sun, 11 May 2025 | USD 2,386 | USD 1,910 | USD 1,642 |
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Sat, 17 May 2025 | Sun, 25 May 2025 | USD 2,386 | USD 1,910 | USD 1,642 |
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Sat, 31 May 2025 | Sun, 08 Jun 2025 | USD 2,386 | USD 1,910 | USD 1,642 |
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Sat, 14 Jun 2025 | Sun, 22 Jun 2025 | USD 2,386 | USD 1,910 | USD 1,642 |
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Sat, 28 Jun 2025 | Sun, 06 Jul 2025 | USD 2,386 | USD 1,910 | USD 1,642 |
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Sat, 12 Jul 2025 | Sun, 20 Jul 2025 | USD 2,352 | USD 1,876 | USD 1,608 |
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Sat, 26 Jul 2025 | Sun, 03 Aug 2025 | USD 2,352 | USD 1,876 | USD 1,608 |
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Sat, 09 Aug 2025 | Sun, 17 Aug 2025 | USD 2,352 | USD 1,876 | USD 1,608 |
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Sat, 23 Aug 2025 | Sun, 31 Aug 2025 | USD 2,352 | USD 1,876 | USD 1,608 |
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Sat, 06 Sep 2025 | Sun, 14 Sep 2025 | USD 2,352 | USD 1,876 | USD 1,608 |
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Sat, 20 Sep 2025 | Sun, 28 Sep 2025 | USD 2,352 | USD 1,876 | USD 1,608 |
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Sat, 04 Oct 2025 | Sun, 12 Oct 2025 | USD 2,352 | USD 1,876 | USD 1,608 |
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Sat, 18 Oct 2025 | Sun, 26 Oct 2025 | USD 2,352 | USD 1,876 | USD 1,608 |
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Sat, 25 Oct 2025 | Sun, 02 Nov 2025 | USD 2,352 | USD 1,876 | USD 1,608 |
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Sat, 08 Nov 2025 | Sun, 16 Nov 2025 | USD 2,352 | USD 1,876 | USD 1,608 |
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Sat, 22 Nov 2025 | Sun, 30 Nov 2025 | USD 2,420 | USD 1,944 | USD 1,676 |
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Sat, 06 Dec 2025 | Sun, 14 Dec 2025 | USD 2,420 | USD 1,944 | USD 1,676 |
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Sat, 13 Dec 2025 | Sun, 21 Dec 2025 | USD 2,420 | USD 1,944 | USD 1,676 |
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Sat, 20 Dec 2025 | Sun, 28 Dec 2025 | USD 2,420 | USD 1,944 | USD 1,676 |
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Tue, 30 Dec 2025 | Wed, 07 Jan 2026 | USD 2,420 | USD 1,944 | USD 1,676 |
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Tue, 06 Jan 2026 | Wed, 14 Jan 2026 | USD 2,420 | USD 1,944 | USD 1,676 |
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Sat, 17 Jan 2026 | Sun, 25 Jan 2026 | USD 2,420 | USD 1,944 | USD 1,676 |
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Sat, 24 Jan 2026 | Sun, 01 Feb 2026 | USD 2,420 | USD 1,944 | USD 1,676 |
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Sat, 07 Feb 2026 | Sun, 15 Feb 2026 | USD 2,420 | USD 1,944 | USD 1,676 |
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Sat, 14 Feb 2026 | Sun, 22 Feb 2026 | USD 2,420 | USD 1,944 | USD 1,676 |
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Sat, 21 Feb 2026 | Sun, 01 Mar 2026 | USD 2,420 | USD 1,944 | USD 1,676 |
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Sat, 07 Mar 2026 | Sun, 15 Mar 2026 | USD 2,420 | USD 1,944 | USD 1,676 |
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Sat, 14 Mar 2026 | Sun, 22 Mar 2026 | USD 2,420 | USD 1,944 | USD 1,676 |
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Sat, 28 Mar 2026 | Sun, 05 Apr 2026 | USD 2,420 | USD 1,944 | USD 1,676 |
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Sat, 04 Apr 2026 | Sun, 12 Apr 2026 | USD 2,420 | USD 1,944 | USD 1,676 |
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